What's so great about Shuriken?

[LGodamus]

Shurikens could also be held in the mouth and shot at a close opponent. I'd say that's a great way to surprise a grappling opponent.

The other big advantage is poison, but I think it is uncharacteristic of most monks to use them that way. Quite simply, shurikens are a back-up weapon for the right time and the right place. Most of the time there is a better weapon.

Shurikens are a weapon of concealment and stealth. It reminds me much more of ninjas than monks.

Actually that would be imi bari not shuriken...they were more like the dart of a blowgun.

 

[Pseudonym]

I've run into the shuirken problem in my Forgotten Realms game, where aside from monks, they are the favored weapons of both Mystra and Tymora, representing swirling stars and spinning coins respectively. Mystra's Dweomerkeeper prestige class requires EWP:Shuriken, unfortunately.

I'm considering replacing them with more thematically appropriate weapons, but I can only wonder what the designers were thinking when they chose the shuriken as a favored weapon.

 

[nHammer]

but I can only wonder what the designers were thinking when they chose the shuriken as a favored weapon.

I would guess they were thinking flavor, not number crunching or thinking of how much damage they can do....

 

[Darklone]

I always had a little laugh about the fact that D&D distinguishes between darts and shuriken

Darts are simple weapons and shuriken exotic... really funny

 

[MerakSpielman]

Shuriken-juitsu requres extreme training to be deadly, but masters can throw six shuriken with each hand, each quite capable of penetrating into vital organs. They walk around with huge, heavy pouches full of shuriken on each side of their belt. Nothing to scoff at, really. The otherwise almost useless fighting forms for the fan and flag were effective at blocking shuriken - something you can't do with a sword outside of cheesy kung-fu movies. Shuriken aren't very accurate though when you're throwing that many at a time - they are close-range weapons that hit random points in a somewhat wide spread. (which is why it's so hard to dodge and block them). I'd say they'd be useless beyond 20' in real life. They're a stealth weapon, and only really useful in certain very specific circumstances.

Thinking about HS's 11 shuriken attacks per round.... imagine adding some sneak attack damage to those, eh?

 

[Mouseferatu]

Four from BAB (multiclassed Monk).
Three from GTWF.
Two from FoB.
One from Rapid Shot.
One from Haste.

Eleven.

-Hyp.

I was under the impression--from a FAQ on the WotC site, I think, though I could be misremembering--that you can't stack TWF and Rapid Shot. You can only use one or the other with thrown weapons.

Could be wrong, of course.

I do know, however, that you cannot use FoB and TWF at the same time, since the book explicitly states that FoB involves multiple limbs, so there's no such thing as an off-hand attack when a monk fluries.

 

[med stud]

I was under the impression--from a FAQ on the WotC site, I think, though I could be misremembering--that you can't stack TWF and Rapid Shot. You can only use one or the other with thrown weapons.

Could be wrong, of course.

I do know, however, that you cannot use FoB and TWF at the same time, since the book explicitly states that FoB involves multiple limbs, so there's no such thing as an off-hand attack when a monk fluries.

Yes, but what's really interesting is whatever the book explicitly states if FoB is incompatible with TWF or not. Otherwise it's just speculation.

 

[Hypersmurf]

I was under the impression--from a FAQ on the WotC site, I think, though I could be misremembering--that you can't stack TWF and Rapid Shot. You can only use one or the other with thrown weapons.

There is no such reference in either the 3E or 3.5 Main FAQ.

I do know, however, that you cannot use FoB and TWF at the same time, since the book explicitly states that FoB involves multiple limbs...

No, it doesn't. You can make every attack in a flurry of blows with a single Holy Kama if you want to beat DR X/Good. You can make every attack in a flurry of blows with your right foot if your hands are tied behind your back and your left ankle is manacled to the wall.

... so there's no such thing as an off-hand attack when a monk fluries.

The book explicitly states that there is no such thing as an off-hand attack for a monk striking unarmed. If he's throwing shuriken, he's not striking unarmed.

-Hyp.

 

[Pseudonym]

I would guess they were thinking flavor, not number crunching or thinking of how much damage they can do....

If flavor was the guiding factor then why change them from the favored weapons from previous editions? Quartersaves and daggers are not especially given to number crunching or excessive damage.

 

[Ds Da Man]

I dont understand why they are Exotic Weapons? It is easier to throw a star then a dagger. Its ORIENTAL, it must be special!!!!